Identifying Film

Motion picture film can be made of various materials and by different processes and both material and process inform storage, handling, and duplication recommendations.

Cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate film bases are chemically unstable and require special action to minimize the risk of total loss as well as the risk of collateral damage to surrounding collections.

General Care and Handling of Motion Picture Film

The following general guidelines pertain to the handling of polyester-based film; cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate films require special protocols.

Take proper care when handling film by:

Have clean hands and use a new pair of nitrile gloves (using clean cotton gloves is better than having fingerprints on the film, but cotton fibers are abrasive and can scratch the emulsion)

Store and handle film in a clean environment; minimize exposure to dust and airborne particulates

Keep food and drink away

Do not touch the face of the film, including the emulsion; if film must be directly handled, handle film only by the edge

Keep playback equipment clean and well maintained

Use duplicate films for access when possible and outfit the projector with a low-heat bulb

Allow materials from cool storage to acclimate to room temperature before playing back

General Guidelines for the Proper Storage of Motion Picture Film

Motion picture films and especially the silver particles or color dyes that constitute the image are highly sensitive to inappropriate environmental conditions; good storage is arguably the best preservation measure one can take:

A relatively dry (30-50% relative humidity), cool (room temperature or below), clean, and stable environment (avoid attics, basements, and other locations with high risk of leaks and environmental extremes)

Distance from radiators and vents

Wound securely (not loose and not too tight), evenly, and neatly with a generous (e.g., 3") center diameter, emulsion side out

Protective enclosures* that physically support the film, block all light, and minimize exposure to dust and airborne (particularly sulfur-containing) atmospheric pollutants

*Storage materials (cores, reels, and enclosures such as boxes or cans) made from acceptable plastics (polypropylene or polyethylene), preservation-quality cardboard, or noncorroding metal that pass the Photographic Activity Test

Dealing with Nitrate Film

Nitrate-base film is highly flammable (can self-ignite at ambient temperatures around 100 degrees F), cannot be extinguished once ignited, and is therefore a serious a fire hazard. Quantities of nitrate film in excess of 25 pounds are subject to storage and handling standards prescribed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Dealing with Cellulose Acetate Film

Cellulose acetate film, also known as "safety" film, is not flammable like cellulose nitrate film, but it is also unstable and undergoes an autocatalytic degradation mechanism that results in embrittlement, shrinkage, and eventual total loss of the image. Like nitrate film, degrading cellulose acetate produces gases that are harmful to other collection items.

Necessary Actions for Acetate Film

Keep the ambient temperature as cool as possible; freezing is recommended if degradation has already started

National Audio-Visual Conservation Center

The preservation procedures described here have been used by the Library of Congress in the care of its collections and are considered suitable by the Library as described; however, the Library will not be responsible for damage to your collections should damage result from the use of these procedures.